First Greenpeace protester leaves Russian detention centre

CP26025349
Greenpeace International activist Faiza Oulahsen speaks from inside a barred enclosure at a courtroom during a hearing that is considering the investigators\' request to extend the detention of 30 members of the Arctic Sunrise Greenpeace International ship in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013.A Russian court on Tuesday granted bail to Greenpeace protesters from Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand, Canada, Poland and Finland the first foreign activists eligible to be released from jail while awaiting trial for participating in a demonstration outside a Russian oil rig. (AP Photo/ Evgeny Feldman)

MOSCOW – A Brazilian Greenpeace activist has left a Russian jail, the first of the 30 people arrested in a September protest to be freed on bail.

Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel on Wednesday was the first to leave detention, walking out of a St. Petersburg pre-trial jail holding a sign reading “Save The Arctic.”

She did not make comments to journalists before getting into a car with her lawyer and heading for a hotel.

Russian courts have granted bail this week to 17 of the detainees — including one of two Canadians — who face charges of hooliganism, and hearings are scheduled for another 12.

Paul Ruzycki of Port Colborne, Ont., was granted bail Tuesday, while Alexandre Paul of Montreal is scheduled for his hearing on Thursday.

The 30 people aboard a Greenpeace ship were detained in September and have been in custody ever since.

It is unclear whether the foreign activists would be allowed to leave the country.

— With files from the Canadian Press

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles